Department for Transport

Railway Stations: Finance

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce the successful applications for the new station funding scheme.

Paul Maynard: Assessment of the New Stations Fund bids is complete and I hope to announce the successful projects shortly.

Railway Stations: Neston

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he has any plans to visit Neston train station.

Paul Maynard: The Department for Transport is working closely with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales to ensure that improvements are secured in the next Wales & Borders franchise for passengers using Neston and other stations on the Wrexham to Bidston route. The Secretary of State has no current plans to visit Neston station.

Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Suicide

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the suicide rate of veterans; and what mental health support is available to ex-service personnel after they leave the armed forces.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence takes very seriously the welfare of Armed Forces personnel and veterans.Fortunately, suicide among members of the Armed Forces remains extremely rare and is generally lower than comparative rates in the civilian population. Our own studies relevant to the suicide rate among veterans of the UK Armed Forces looked at deaths that occurred among veterans of the 1990/91 Gulf and veterans of the 1982 Falklands campaign. Both studies show that there was no excess in the rates of suicide in these groups of veterans and is lower than comparative rates in the civilian population.The NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations are primarily responsible for the provision of healthcare, including mental healthcare, for veterans.Veterans in England, Scotland and Wales receive priority access to NHS secondary care for Service-related conditions, subject to the clinical need of all patients. The Ministry of Defence also provides support through its Departments of Community Mental Health, and the Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme. In England, veterans and Service personnel approaching discharge benefit from the new NHS England transition, intervention and liaison (TIL) mental health service launched on 1 April 2017.Veterans can also access support services from:www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces or call the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline on 0800 138 1619 or the Veterans Gateway:https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Domestic Visits: Glasgow East

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on which date (a) he or (b) a Minister of his Department last visited a company headquartered in Glasgow East constituency.

Margot James: The BEIS Ministerial Team has undertaken several visits across Scotland this year, as part of the Department’s stakeholder engagement for an Industrial Strategy that works for the whole of the UK and drives growth right across the country.Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited Scotland for two days during which he hosted a reception at Edinburgh University on 11 April which was attended by over 100 businesses from all over Scotland. This was followed by visits in the region.The Ministerial team has and continues to visit numerous businesses around the UK to prioritise engagement on Industrial Strategy.

Muscular Dystophy

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK maintains its role in Europe-wide research collaboration into muscular dystrophy after the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 June 2017 to Question UIN 185.

Energy: Finance

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish a Contract for Difference allowing non-UK renewable energy projects to compete for funding.

Richard Harrington: The Department is focussed on running competitive auctions to award contracts for difference (CFD) to UK-based renewable electricity projects. There are currently no plans to open the UK CFD scheme to non-UK projects.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

North Korea: Guided Weapons

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the Governments of (a) Japan and (b) South Korea on recent missile launches conducted by North Korea.

Mark Field: The British Government holds regular discussions with the Government of Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the widest range of security issues, including the recent missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). In May, the Prime Minister, spoke to the President of the ROK to confirm that the UK will continue to work with the ROK and the international community to maintain pressure on the DPRK to abide by its international obligations, including multiple UN Security Council Resolutions which prohibit its ballistic missile programme. In April, the Prime Minister and Japanese Prime Minister Abe held talks at Chequers and agreed on the severity of the threat posed by the DPRK and the need for international coordination.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Russia on the alleged death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of Daesh.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary has not raised this issue with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. The whereabouts of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains unknown at this time. We and the Global Coalition have not been able to confirm the claim made by the Russians.

Burma: Rohingya

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Burmese authorities on developments in that country affecting the human rights of the Rohingya people.

Mark Field: We have raised our concerns over the situation in Rakhine State with the Burmese authorities on a number of occasions. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary and the former Minister for Asia and the Pacific both raised our concerns with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to the UK in May. They stressed the need for humanitarian access and a credible investigation into reports of violations.Furthermore as recently as March, the UK supported the creation of a UN Human Rights Council-mandated Independent International Fact Finding Mission to look into the situation in Rakhine State. We urge Burma to cooperate fully with this mission. We also fully support the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Naturally this is an ongoing situation which we shall continue to monitor closely.

Northern Ireland Office

Political Parties: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will set out a timetable to introduce legislation ending the practice allowing anonymity for donations to political parties operating in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: In January, I wrote to the Northern Ireland political parties to seek their views on moving to full transparency for Northern Ireland political donations and loans. I received a positive response from the parties. The introduction of increased transparency of donations to Northern Ireland parties was also a Conservative Manifesto commitment at the recent Parliamentary election. I will make a statement shortly on the steps needed to ensure that information relating to Northern Ireland political donations and loans can be published.

Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Government's policy is on the jurisdictional status of (a) Lough Foyle and (b) Carlingford Lough; and what recent discussions have been held with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on those disputed jurisdictions.

James Brokenshire: The regulation of activities in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough is the responsibility of the Loughs Agency, a cross-border body established under the Belfast Agreement of 1998. We remain fully committed to these arrangements and continue to work closely with the Irish Government over improvements to the management of the Loughs.

Home Office

Counter-terrorism

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funds her Department has allocated to counter-terrorism policing budgets in each of the last five years.

Mr Ben  Wallace: The level of counter-terrorism police funding is published annually in a Written Ministerial Statement on the Police Grant Report. These figures are set out in the table below. 2013/14*£563m2014/15*£564m2015/16*£564m2016/17£640m resource and £30m capital2017/18£633m resource and £42m capital * Prior to 2016/17 no figure was published for CT policing capital.In addition, since 2016-17 the Government is investing £144m over five years to increase armed policing capability and capacity.

Counter-terrorism

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support counter-terrorism units.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources her Department has allocated to the police forces that were involved in and are investigating the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources her Department has allocated to the police forces that were involved in and are investigating the London Bridge terrorist attack.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources her Department has allocated to the police forces that were involved in and are investigating the Finsbury Park terrorist attack.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources her Department has allocated to the police forces that were involved in and are investigating the Manchester terrorist attack.

Mr Ben  Wallace: For reasons of national security we do not publically disclose the detailed allocation of funding for counter terrorism by force area or by capability.Overall this Government has protected counter-terrorism police spend in real terms over the Spending Review period, and invested in counter-terrorism policing to grow key capabilities, including providing £144m to increase armed policing capability. We remain committed to increasing cross-government spending on counter-terrorism by 30%, from £11.7 billion to £15.1 billion, including funding an additional 1,900 officers at our security and intelligence agencies.We know that the recent horrific attacks have put pressure on the police across the country. We are already working closely with policing, including with Greater Manchester Police and the Metropolitan Police Service, to help manage the cost of the immediate response to the recent attacks.The Government has a constructive dialogue with policing to ensure that the right powers, capabilities and resources are in place.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on the eligibility criteria for non-UK EU citizens who wish to settle permanently in the UK but arrive after the specified date in the UK's agreement with the EU when the UK leaves the EU.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that non-UK EU citizens who are (a) residing in the UK and (b) posted abroad for work will still be able to apply for settled status after five years after the UK leaves the EU.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure EU citizens who have not acquired five years residency and arrived before the cut-off date are able to prove their UK residency when travelling between the UK and the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Brandon Lewis: The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, proposes that EU citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date, have five years’ continuous residence and who do not breach the requirements in relation to criminality, public policy and public security, will be able to apply for UK settled status. The specified date is subject to negotiation, but will be no earlier than 29 March 2017 and not later than the date of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.For those who arrive after the specified date, there will be no change to their rights while the UK remains in the EU. After exit, a grace period of blanket permission will apply to them, while they make an application to the Home Office for permission to stay in the UK in accordance with the new rules applying to EU citizens, which are yet to be determined. The ability of EU citizens arriving after the specified date to subsequently obtain further or indefinite permission to stay will depend on the rules in place at the time. Proposals for managing EU migration post-exit will be published as soon as possible, allowing businesses and individuals time to plan and prepare.It is our intention that all EU citizens living lawfully in the UK before the specified date are covered by our proposals. It will not be necessary to be present in the UK on the specified date and – as is currently the case under the Free Movement Directive - there will be flexibility for temporary absences. This will be subject to negotiations and a reciprocal deal with the EU.All EU citizens (and their families) in the UK, regardless of when they arrived, will, on the UK’s exit, need to obtain an immigration status in UK law. They will need to apply to the Home Office for permission to stay, which will be evidenced through a residence document.Further details of the Government’s proposals are in the policy paper on ‘Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU’, which is availableat the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-the-position-of-eu-citizens-in-the-uk-and-uk-nationals-in-the-eu

Wales Office

MOD St Athan

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2017 to Question 70760, what (a) discussions and (b) other communications his Department has had with (i) the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and (ii) the Welsh Assembly Government on the relocation of MOD St Athan 4 School of Technical Training since February 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: I have regular discussions with Ministers and officials at the Ministry of Defence on defence matters relating to Wales, including MOD St. Athan and the relocation of No. 4 School of Technical Training. My officials also have regular discussions with their counterparts. Quarterly meetings are held between Ministry of Defence, Welsh Government and Wales Office officials regarding MoD St. Athan. The last meeting was held on 2 March and a further meeting was due to take place on 29 June.

Department for Education

Children: Disadvantaged

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the (a) quality of attachment between parents and children aged under five, (b) home learning environments for children aged under five and (c) mental health of new and expectant mothers in low-income households.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Parents play a vitally important role in their child’s early development and learning.The What to Expect When Guide, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), sets out the development milestones at each age in key areas to help parents support their children. http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2015/03/what-to-expect-when-a-parents-guide/. The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) statutory framework requires that early years settings must engage parents and carers in guiding their child’s development at home. In 2017, the Department awarded grants totalling almost £1.7m to voluntary and community sector organisations. These grants support work with disadvantaged communities to improve the take-up of free early education places for 2-year olds, and work with parents to create a positive home learning environment. NHS England is leading a programme of work to ensure that at least 30,000 more women each year are able to access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period by 2020/21. £60m has been committed to improve the provision of specialist perinatal community services across England between 2016/17 and 2018/19, promoting equality of access across the communities they serve.Increasing capability across the specialist perinatal mental health workforce is also a key objective. Targeted funding of £1.2m in 2017/18 will enable the training of mental health, maternity and primary care staff, increasing awareness and skills related to perinatal mental health.

Children's Centres

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the consultation on the future of Sure Start children's centres.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is committed to ensuring that all children – regardless of background – get the best possible start in life. Children’s centres are part of this.We will set out our plans in due course.

Pre-school Education: Staff

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to recruit a specialist, highly-trained early years workforce.

Mr Robert Goodwill: On 3 March 2017, my department published its Early Years Workforce Strategy, setting out actions to support the development of a well-qualified workforce with the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to deliver high quality early education and childcare for children from birth to age five. The Early Years Workforce Strategy can be viewed online:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-workforce-strategy

Home Education

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many interventions under section 437(1) of the Education Act 1996, for home schooling, have been made by local authorities in the last five years.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many interventions have been made by social services relating to home schooling in the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry, but data on these matters are not collected centrally by the Department for Education. Each local authority maintains its own records of such interventions.

Children: Disadvantaged

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the Government's policy is on supporting children from low income families to meet their developmental milestones prior to starting primary school.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make additional funding available in areas of high deprivation to improve early years provision so that children from low income families do not fall behind their peers prior to starting primary education.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Every child deserves the best possible start in life – that is why all three- and four-year-old children and the least advantaged two-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of high-quality early education to prepare them for school and improve their life chances. In addition, three and four year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium, worth over £300 a year per child, to help them achieve better outcomes. In terms of funding, the new Early Years National Funding Formula allocates additional money for three and four year olds to local authorities with higher levels of deprivation, as measured by the incidence of children accessing Free School Meals. Local authorities are then required to use a ‘deprivation supplement’ to channel extra funding to providers operating in more deprived areas.

Children in Care

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children have gone into care in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: This information is provided in the table below:Children who started to be looked after1,2,3 and children who were taken into care during the year4 ending 31 MarchYears ending 31 March 2012 to 2016Coverage: England 20122013201420152016Children who started to be looked after:28,39028,97030,73031,34032,050 Of which were children who were taken into care410,14011,15010,95010,84011,780Source: SSDA9031. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.2. Only the first occasion on which a child started to be looked after in the year has been counted3. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements, but include children who were previously looked after under and agreed series of short term placements but have changed to become looked after under a different legal status (e.g. care order) in the year.4. A children starts to be looked after when they are provided with local authority accommodation. Of these, a child is deemed to have been ‘taken into care’ if they start to be looked after under an interim or full care order, or if they are detained for child protection under a police protection order, emergency protection order or child assessment order. Further breakdowns of children who started to be looked after can be found in Table C1 of the statistical first release Children Looked After in England including Adoption: 2015 to 2016 at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2015-to-2016.



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Children: Social Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been provided in each of the last five years to fund children's care services.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government does not provide a specific amount to Local Authorities for spending on children’s social care. Local authorities have had £232.6bn of revenue funding available for their services from Revenue Support Grant, council tax and retained business rates over the past 5 years, as shown in the table below. £ million2013-142014-152015-162016-172017-18Local authority retained business rates (after safety net and levy)10,87111,20111,65811,97414,885Council tax requirement (excl parish precepts)23,00423,57524,32525,63727,158Revenue Support Grant15,17512,6759,5097,1843,800 It is for local authorities to determine how to spend this and other sources of income on the services they provide, including services for children in care, taking account of local need and priorities.  Local authority spend, on children in care and adoption services, has increased over the last five years. The most recent five years we have data for are in the table below and are published as part of the Department’s Section 251 collection.£ million (gross rounded)2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16Local authority spend on looked after children and adoption services3,3843,4963,6613,7693,942 Note: 2011-12 and 2012-13 figures are not directly comparable due to changes in the categories included between the two years.

Children in Care

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the number of people willing to foster children in care.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The government is committed to looking at the foster care system through the National Fostering Stocktake. This is now underway and will be taking a wholesale look at the challenges and issues facing the foster care system in England. Part of this review will look at the recruitment and retention of foster carers, ensuring that we have the right foster carers in the right places and exploring how we can ensure foster carers have the support and skills they need to meet the needs of the children in their care.

Pre-school Education: Basic Skills

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the early years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. The EYFS can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2.For literacy, the EYFS requires early years practitioners to encourage children to link sounds and letters, through the use of phonics, and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. For teaching numeracy, practitioners provide children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measureThrough the recent primary assessment consultation, we are exploring the content of the early learning goals (ELGs) specified in the EYFS, including those relating to literacy and numeracy. The consultation closed on 22 June, and a Government response will be issued in due course.

Apprentices

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the number of apprenticeships for young people to be delivered by 2020.

Anne Milton: The government is committed to delivering 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020. Apprenticeship reforms continue to improve the quality of apprenticeships for all, providing the skills that employers need. Our reforms include implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy and new funding system to encourage employers to offer more high quality apprenticeships opportunities to people of all ages. There were 509,400 apprenticeship starts in the 2015/16 academic year of which 285,300 were by people under 25. Our ‘Get In Go Far’ campaign aims to encourage more young people to apply and more employers to offer opportunities.

Apprentices

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on allowing large firms to place apprentices within their supply chains.

Anne Milton: From April 2018, we plan to allow levy-paying employers to transfer up to 10% of the annual value of funds entering their apprenticeship service accounts to another employer or apprenticeship training agency.

Primary Education: Nurseries

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on funding the creation of nurseries in primary schools.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on all new primary schools including a nursery.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We know that high-quality childcare is important not just for working parents but also for a child’s development and school readiness. We will provide more details on our plans in due course.

Children: Protection

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the placement of responsibilities for family support and child protection services.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Under the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, there is a duty on all Secretaries of State, but in practice primarily on the Secretary of State for Education, to promote the wellbeing of all children in England.Under the Children Act 1989, local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area, including a duty to provide services for children in need. Local authorities are responsible for the delivery and quality of children’s services in their area.Central government formally intervenes where local government demonstrably fails to deliver, such as when Ofsted has judged services as inadequate. The Department’s approach to intervention, and to delivering our vision for excellent children’s social care more widely, is set out in ‘Putting Children First’ (2016): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/554573/Putting_children_first_delivering_vision_excellent_childrens_social_care.pdf

Worksop Town Football Academy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students in Worksop Town football academy in 2015-16 were assessed for student support; and how many received financial support during their studies.

Anne Milton: The Department does not hold this information.

Pupil Premium

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the Pupil Premium.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to protect the pupil premium proposed per pupil in (a) cash and (b) real terms.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to protect funding under the pupil premium scheme.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are committed to making this is a truly meritocratic country where everyone has a fair chance to go as far as their talent and hard work will take them. The pupil premium is currently worth £2.5 billion a year and we will continue to protect it to support those who need it. We will work with schools to make effective use of the funding, including through the work of the Education Endowment Foundation.

Free School Meals

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on universal infant free-school meals.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are reflecting on our programmes in relation to school meals and will come forward with proposals in due course.

Breakfast Clubs

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on school breakfasts in primary schools in England.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are reflecting on our programmes in relation to school meals and will come forward with proposals in due course.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding was provided to each pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each region and local authority in (A) cash terms and (B) 2014 prices in each year since 2005-06.

Nick Gibb: The Department primarily allocates capital and revenue funding at local authority level. The table in the attachment shows average per pupil revenue funding figures from financial year 2005-06 to 2016-17. These figures are in cash terms. The Government publishes GDP deflators that can be used to understand the impact of inflation over time. These are available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gdp-deflators-at-market-prices-and-money-gdp-march-2017-spring-budget-2017.  The data for capital funding allocated to local areas prior to 2011-12 is not readily available. Allocations in cash terms since then can be found at the following links:Basic Need Allocations: 2011-19School Condition Allocations: 2011-12School Condition Allocations: 2012-13School Condition Allocations: 2013-14School Condition Allocations: 2014-15School Condition Allocations: 2015-16School Condition Allocations: 2016-17School Condition Allocations: 2017-18. Funding distributed to academies and Multi Academy Trusts is not included, as they often allocate funding across LA boundaries. Accordingly, it is not possible to calculate per-pupil capital funding for local area. More detail on funding for new free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools; on schools and school blocks being rebuilt under the Priority Schools Building Programmes; and funding allocated through the Condition Improvement Fund can be accessed via the links below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-funding-for-open-free-schools https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/psbp-list-of-successful-applicantshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-school-building-programme-2-list-of-successful-schoolshttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund.   



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Pre-school Education: Staff

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on consulting on allowing people with Early Years Teacher Status and Early Years Professional Status to lead nursery and reception classes in maintained schools.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Early Years Workforce Strategy published in March this year, sets out the actions we will take to attract, retain and develop the early years workforce. This included committing to consult on allowing those with Early Years Teacher Status and its predecessor Early Years Professional Status to lead nursery and reception classes in maintained schools. A consultation on this issue has been conducted in line with the statutory requirements for making amends to these regulations, which the Department has done.The Government will respond in due course.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Early Years Workforce Strategy, what funding the Government plans to make available to the early years sector to support that sector in developing quality improvement support in partnership with schools and local authorities.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government has announced £5m per year until 2020 to support quality improvement in the early years, and local authorities can reflect the quality of provision in the free entitlement funding that they allocate to providers.  We will expand relationships between schools and early years providers via the teaching school network. Up to £3 million in 2017/18 and 2018/19, and up to £1.5 million in 2019/20 of the above funding will be allocated to this purpose. We will also seek to support the development of models that can provide sustainable quality improvement services for all types of early years providers, particularly in those local authority areas facing particular challenges. We will work with local authorities and early years providers to do this.

Vocational Education

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils her Department estimates will be studying T-Levels in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

Anne Milton: We expect the new T level programmes to be an attractive option, providing a high-quality alternative to the 50% of 16–19 year olds who do not follow an academic programme. We are currently working through the detail of our proposals for implementing the reforms, including an assessment of how best to introduce the various routes and qualifications. Only once this work is complete will be in a position to know the number of students expected to take the new T level programmes each year. We expect to publish further information in due course.

Children: Disadvantaged

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to ensure that children from lower-income families are reaching the same expected developmental milestones at the same age as other children in their peer group.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Every child deserves the best possible start in life – that is why all three- and four-year-old children and the least advantaged two-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of high-quality early education to prepare them for school and improve their life chances. In addition, three- and four-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium, worth over £300 a year per child, to help them achieve better outcomes. In terms of funding, the new Early Years National Funding Formula allocates additional money for three- and four-year-olds to local authorities with higher levels of deprivation, as measured by the incidence of children accessing Free School Meals. Local authorities are then required to use a ‘deprivation supplement’ to channel extra funding to providers operating in more deprived areas.

Pre-school Education: Standards

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government plans to take to improve the quality of nursery provision to ensure that all children are school-ready at the age of five.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The 2016 Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) profile results show that 69.3% of children achieved a good level of development (GLD) by age 5, up from 51.7% in 2013.The quality of early years provision is also improving with 93% of settings rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding in March 2017 compared to 74% in 2012. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-statistics).Key to quality is a well-qualified workforce. On 3 March, the Department published its early years workforce strategy, which set out actions to help employers attract, retain and develop early years staff. The workforce strategy is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-workforce-strategy.The EYFS statutory framework sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe, and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2Through the recent primary assessment consultation, we asked whether the EYFS profile should be improved to better assess a child’s knowledge, skill, understanding and level of development at the end of the early years so as to ensure that children are ready for Key Stage 1. The consultation closed on 22 June.

Breakfast Clubs

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Government will introduce universal free breakfasts for primary school children.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are reflecting on our programmes in relation to school meals and will come forward with proposals in due course.

Primary Education: Nurseries

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much additional revenue funding her Department plans to make available for primary schools for new nursery staff in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Revenue funding for delivering the free early years entitlements is allocated to local authorities, who are then responsible for distributing it to early years providers including primary schools with nursery classes. The Government will be investing an additional £1 billion per year by 2019-20 in the free entitlements. The initial funding allocations for 2017-18 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2017-to-2018 and funding allocations for future years will be announced in due course.

Breakfast Clubs

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the resources needed to provide a free breakfast to every primary school child in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are reflecting on our programmes in relation to school meals and will come forward with proposals in due course.

Primary Education: Nurseries

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is her Department's policy that all primary schools will include a nursery.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We know that high-quality childcare is important not just for working parents but also for a child’s development and school readiness. We will provide more details on our plans in due course.

Pupil Premium

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse will be of protecting the pupil premium in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Since 2010 the schools budget has been protected in real terms. The pupil premium is currently worth £2.5 billion a year and this Government has committed to increase the school budget further, as well as continuing to protect the Pupil Premium to support those who need it. Further details on the cost of providing protections will be announced in due course.

Children: Disadvantaged

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to carry out further consultation on analysing family circumstances and education.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Since launching the technical consultation on Analysing family circumstances and education on 12th April the close date has been extended to 31st July 2017 to allow more opportunity for responses. We will be discussing the method further with users and considering views on the methods set out here to consider the way forward for our analytical publications. We set out in the consultation document that we would welcome views on: expanding the number of years for analysis; including more sources of income; adjusting for housing costs; and on the methodology outlined for looking at ordinary working families, and how to refer to the group in DfE publications. Ahead of the original consultation being published, officials met with a range of academics working in the sector to discuss the proposed methodology and once we have collated responses received since the publication, will continue to seek further input from other interested groups. We will also continue to work closely with analysts at Department for Work and Pensions as we develop the data sources and methodology.

Further Education: Staff

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on attracting experienced industry professionals to work in further education colleges.

Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 486.

Private Education

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the proportion of privately-educated students who enter the (a) medical, (b) legal and (c) teaching professions.

Joseph Johnson: The information requested is not available.

Boarding Schools: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of state boarding schools are rated by Ofsted as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of city technology colleges are rated by Ofsted as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of community schools are rated by Ofsted as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of faith schools are rated by Ofsted as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of free schools are rated by Ofsted as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of academies are rated by Ofsted as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Nick Gibb: These are matters for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to you and a copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

Sixth Form Education

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 71090, how much spending was forecast to be spent on education for 16 to 19-year-olds as a result of announcements in the Autumn Statement 2015; and how much was allocated to institutions offering education to 16 to 19-year-olds as a result of those announcements.

Anne Milton: Following the 2015 Autumn Statement, the department’s budget for spending on 16-19 education in the 2016-17 financial year was £5.9bn. High needs funding is included in this figure but funding for student support is not. The funding allocations for institutions in the 2016/17 academic year can be found at the following location:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-education-funding-allocations#published-allocations.

Ministry of Justice

Human Rights: Impact Assessments

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of carrying out human rights impact assessments for each stage of the passage of a Bill.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The human rights implications of Government Bills are set out in the Explanatory Notes and summarised in the statement made under section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 by the Minister in charge of the Bill. Human rights issues are further considered through scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, in correspondence with the Government where required.

Community Rehabilitation Companies: Staff

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employment and training staff were employed by the Community Rehabilitation Company in (a) Wales and (b) Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire Community Rehabilitation Company at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr Sam Gyimah: In (a) Wales Community Rehabilitation Company 4.68 Full Time Equivalent Employment and Training staff are employed. In (b)Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire Community Rehabilitation company,12.28 Full Time Equivalent Employment and Training staff are employed

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme's policy on consent to sexual assault on victims who are under 16 years of age and do not qualify for compensation.

Mr Sam Gyimah: It has not been possible to answer this question in the time allowed. I will write to the honourable member in due course.

Wales Community Rehabilitation Company

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders were seen each week by employment and training staff in the Community Rehabilitation Company in Wales in the last period for which figures are available; and what payment that company received for each person seen.

Mr Sam Gyimah: This information is not collected centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. There is no contractual requirement for the CRC to collect this information.

Disasters

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the commitment in the Queen's Speech 2017 to introduce an independent public advocate to act for bereaved families after a public disaster, whether there will be a time limit on the advocate taking up cases; whether the advocate will be able to initiate inquiries on behalf of bereaved families; whether the advocate will be able to compel witnesses in an inquiry; and whether the advocate will be able to make formal recommendations to the Government to support people affected by such disasters.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We will consult in the autumn on detailed proposals as to the Independent Public Advocate’s powers, duties and functions.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many community rehabilitation companies are in dispute with his Department on the payment mechanism.

Mr Sam Gyimah: No Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) is in formal dispute with the department. We have undertaken an overarching review of probation, looking at the standards we set for providers and how we hold them to account. We have already made some changes to how CRCs are paid so they can focus on activities that best rehabilitate offenders and keep society safe. The details of these negotiations are commercially sensitive.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many financial penalties have been incurred by (a) number and (b) financial value by community rehabilitation companies in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) each county in each year since 2010.

Mr Sam Gyimah: This information is commercially sensitive. We hold providers rigorously to account for their performance and take action wherever they are falling short. Our contract management teams closely monitor and robustly manage providers to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending, protect the public and provide value for money to the taxpayer. If standards are not met, financial penalties can be applied through Service Credits. Service Credits are a payment made by the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) back to the Government, as a means of compensating for services under the contract where the CRC fails to meet the contractual service levels expected.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department expects the review of community rehabilitation company performance measures to be completed.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We have been carrying out a comprehensive review of the probation system to improve outcomes for offenders and communities while making sure public protection remains our top priority. It considered all aspects of the probation system, including CRC performance and contractual arrangements. The review has now concluded and we will be publishing our findings in due course.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many end-state performance targets have been met by each community rehabilitation company providers in each year since 2010.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the proportion of offenders is who were recorded as having successfully completed their period of licence or post-sentence supervision in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) each community rehabilitation company following a release from custody in each year since 2010.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) came into existence on 1 June 2014 and ownership was transferred to new rehabilitation providers on 1 February 2015. The performance of CRCs, including compliance with Licence and Post-Sentence Supervision (PSS), is assessed through a range of service levels and through a robust contract management and assurance process. Performance information against these service levels is published quarterly, and the latest data can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-mi-update-to-december-2016. End state targets for some service levels were only expected to be met by February 2017, and this period is due for publication on 27 July 2017. Public protection is our top priority and we will take all necessary action to make sure the probation system is reducing reoffending and preventing future victims. We have undertaken an overarching review of probation, looking at the standards we set for providers and how we hold them to account and will be publishing our findings in due course.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appointments have been (a) offered and (b) undertaken by service users of community rehabilitation companies in each year since 2010.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many service users main contact with the community rehabilitation company is by telephone, in each community rehabilitation company in each year since 2010.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The information requested is not collated centrally. Community Rehabilitation Companies came into existence on 1 June 2014 and ownership was transferred to new rehabilitation providers on 1 February 2015. We have since undertaken an overarching review of probation, looking at the standards we set for providers and how we hold them to account and will be publishing our findings in due course.

Ministry of Justice: ICT

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what date his Department plans to deliver the strategic (IT) gateway; and what the reasons are for delay.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Strategic Partner Gateway (SPG) has been available since September 2016, providing secure data exchange capability between nDelius and CRCs own offender case management systems once they are ready. There was a delay in implementing the SPG which was originally expected to be in place in the second quarter of 2015. This was due to extra work required on technical data exchange requirements, and design changes as a result of additional business processes that had been identified. The CRCs do not yet have their own case management systems in service. Following extensive testing and accreditation, the first anticipated cutover to a CRC’s own system and the SPG is currently planned to take place by early autumn 2017.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment the Government has made of staff moral in community rehabilitation companies in England and Wales.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We recognise that the reforms to probation services led to a period of great change for staff. Staff in the National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) were provided with support both during and after the transition to the new probation structures. CRCs are responsible for the welfare of the staff they employ. All suppliers were required to outline their employee incentive offer at the bidding stage, and these have been contractualised. We monitor CRCs closely through a robust contract management process. We have undertaken an overarching review of probation, looking at the standards we set for providers and how we hold them to account, and will be publishing our findings in due course.

Probation

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many multi-agency public protection arrangements eligible offenders are managed by the National Probation Service in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) each county in each year since 2010.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The available information can be found in the table below. The National Probation Service (NPS) was created in June 2014. Data on MAPPA offenders for the year 2016-17 will not be released until the MAPPA annual report is published as National Statistics. The data cannot be broken down by county as the NPS is not organised along county lines. Instead the data is presented for England, Wales and by NPS Division.  Quarterly snapshots of the number of MAPPA offenders managed by the NPS in the community by England, Wales and NPS Division from 30/06/14-31/03/16. 30/06/1430/09/1431/12/1431/03/15England23,25825,36527,84928,042Wales1,3551,4201,5161,725NPS London3,8474,0054,3774,329NPS Midlands4,3574,7475,2515,275NPS North East4,4844,9565,2345,313NPS North West4,1454,7905,0675,261NPS South East and Eastern3,0413,2373,9513,927NPS South west and South Central3,3843,6303,9693,937England and Wales24,61326,78529,36529,767 30/06/1530/09/1531/12/1531/03/16England28,69529,6463056031,732Wales1,7481,7961,8871,951NPS London4,4154,4934,5794,724NPS Midlands5,3265,5105,6185,815NPS North East5,3925,5395,6955,904NPS North West5,3975,5725,9065,944NPS South East and Eastern4,0944,3564,4694,904NPS South west and South Central4,0714,1764,2934,441England and Wales30,44331,44232,44733,683

Probation

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve National Probation Service effectiveness for cases (a) of domestic abuse and (b) involving the safeguarding of children.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The National Probation Service (NPS) is responsible for assessing the level of risk posed by each offender under its supervision and ensuring that a robust plan is in place to manage any risk which the offender presents with respect to domestic abuse or to harming children. Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) has recently created a Directorate to lead a major programme to ensure that the NPS’s operational practice is of the highest standard. All NPS staff are required to complete a training package on child safeguarding and domestic abuse and repeat the training, every three years to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date. To support its contribution to local multi-agency arrangements, the NPS has developed a series of National Partnership Strategy Frameworks. They cover the NPS’s involvement in multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) for high risk domestic abuse victims and Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs). (a) For domestic abuse, NPS staff are required to be alert to the possibility that there might be issues relating to domestic abuse in every case they manage and not just in those cases where the offender is already convicted of an offence in which domestic abuse is involved. The NPS is able to purchase specialist interventions from the Community Rehabilitation Companies to address the risk of domestic abuse. The then National Offender Management Service (NOMS), now Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service, produced and promulgated updated Domestic Abuse Guidance in August 2016. (b) The NPS issued a Child Safeguarding Policy Statement in January this year, to replace interim guidance. NPS staff now have access to a range of safeguarding toolkits, information, quality assurance tools and practice guidance. In addition, the NPS has produced and promulgated a guide to staff supervising perpetrators of child sexual exploitation.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government has produced or is planning to produce a report on the effectiveness of the new Integrated Offender Management arrangements.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Integrated Offender Management is a local partnership arrangement that sees criminal justice agencies working together with other partners to tackle the offenders who cause most harm to their local communities. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have included a report on the police contribution to local IOM arrangements in their PEEL inspections of police forces’ effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy. For Community Rehabilitation Companies and the National Probation Service, Her Majesty’s Inspection of Probation report on IOM in Quality and Impact Inspections. The Government currently has no plans to produce a report specifically on the effectiveness of Integrated Offender Management.

Domestic Violence: Convictions

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of convictions flagged as domestic abuse offences resulted in a (i) custodial sentence and (ii) fine in each month since 2015.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of convictions flagged as domestic abuse offences resulted in (i) a suspended sentence and (ii) a community sentence in each month since 2015.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Information on offences separately identified as domestic abuse cannot be separated out from other forms of assault or abuse in records held centrally by the Ministry of Justice. This is because data on the relationship between the victim and defendant is held on individual court records and therefore the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Personal Independence Payment: Legal Aid Scheme

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will ensure that people who lose access to benefits as a result of a PIP reassessment are eligible for legal aid for expenses for any appeal against that decision.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is committed to making sure that legal aid is available to those who need it most, and for the high priority cases that require it such as those detained under mental health legislation, or parents who are facing their children being taken into care. Legal aid remains available for appeals or applications for leave to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, subject to the applicant meeting the statutory tests of means and merits. Funding may also be available under the exceptional case funding scheme, where it is required by law. The Government’s reform programme will modernise the courts and tribunal system, improving the experience of everyone who comes into contact with it. We will make sure that the provision of legal support reflects the new way that the justice system works.

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's policy is on UK engagement with the Fundamental Rights Agency after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Our relationship with the European Union's agencies upon exit will be evaluated in light of delivering the twelve objectives outlined by the Prime Minister to achieve a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU. No decisions have yet been made on our future relationship with the EU's agencies after leaving the EU. We are considering very carefully a range of options. As the Prime Minister has made clear the UK will continue to exercise its rights and fulfil its obligations as a member of the EU until our exit. This includes participation in the work of the Fundamental Rights Agency.

Prime Minister

Borders: Northern Ireland

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, whether she plans to discuss the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland when she meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the hon. Member to the statement issued on 19 June following my meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-press-conference-with-taoiseach-leo-varadkar-19-june-2017

EU Exit and Trade Committee

Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions the EU Exit and Trade Cabinet Committee has met; and who chaired each such meeting.

Mrs Theresa May: As has been the practice under successive Governments, information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees is not disclosed.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she has had with the former Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as the UK exits the EU.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the hon. Member to the press release issued on 11 June following my phone call with former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-taoiseach-enda-kenny-11-june-2017

Fire Regulations: High Rise Flats

Diana Johnson: To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to her statement of 17 June 2017 on the Grenfell Tower disaster, how many local authorities have been approached about enforcement of fire orders in high-rise buildings; how many such buildings have been found to be non-compliant with orders; and on what date she expects to have completed checks with all local authorities.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to her statement of 17 June 2017 on the Grenfell Tower disaster, how many fire safety reviews are to be conducted into housing association and local authority high-rise buildings similar to Grenfell Tower; and on what date all such reviews are expected to conclude.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the hon. Member to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr Javid) on 26 June 2017, Official Report, column 347

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Digital Technology: Glasgow East

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle digital exclusion in Glasgow East constituency.

Matt Hancock: We are committed to tackling digital exclusion. The Digital Skills and Inclusion chapter of the Digital Strategy, published in March of this year, describes some of the many ways in which we are working across government and with industry and the charity sector to address the digital divide. Responsibility for digital inclusion in Scotland is devolved, but the UK Government also funds Good Things Foundation to deliver the Future Digital Inclusion Programme. Good Things Foundation oversees the network of more than 5,000 UK Online Centres, including in Glasgow East.

Internet: Young People

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to publish a green paper on online safety for young people.

Matt Hancock: Work has started on the DCMS led cross-government internet safety strategy which will give us the opportunity to consider issues of online safety for children and young people. We are considering how this will be taken forward under the Digital Charter.

Commercial Broadcasting: Radio

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish her response to the consultation on Commercial Radio Deregulation which closed in May 2017; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock: The commercial radio deregulation consultation closed on 8 May 2017. We intend to publish the government response in due course.

Museums and Galleries: Fees and Charges

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the trends in the entrance fees charged for temporary exhibitions at national museums in England in the last five years.

John Glen: DCMS does not hold data on entrance fees for charged temporary exhibitions at national museums in England over the last five years. DCMS-sponsored national museums operate at arm's length from government and decisions about entrance fees for temporary exhibitions are taken independently by these organisations.

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the UK's participation in Creative Europe.

Matt Hancock: The Secretary of State for Culture has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (EU) on a range of issues affecting the creative and cultural industries in the context of leaving the EU.

Broadband

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of community broadband schemes in England about the roll-out of superfast broadband services.

Matt Hancock: DCMS has worked with a number of local communities to progress community broadband schemes and, as a result, information and guidance for communities has been developed and published on the Department’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-led-broadband-schemes. This also includes case studies such as Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) (https://b4rn.org.uk/) and other examples.

Mobile Broadband: Scotland

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of mobile telephone operators on 3G and 4G coverage in rural areas in Scotland.

Matt Hancock: My department has regular meetings with mobile network operators at both ministerial and official level to discuss a range of issues, including improving mobile coverage in rural areas across the UK including Scotland. Furthermore, as a result of the Government's landmark agreement with mobile operators each mobile operator will deliver mobile coverage to 90% of the UK's landmass by the end of this year. Additionally O2 will deliver indoor 4G coverage to 95% of premises in Scotland, also by the end of 2017.

Tourism

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to relocate regional assets held in national galleries and libraries to their areas of origin to promote regional tourism.

John Glen: DCMS does not plan to legislate to relocate regional assets held in national galleries, museums and libraries. The Government supports and encourages the sharing of the national collections across the United Kingdom, to enable as many people as possible to see them and to promote regional tourism. Several national institutions are either based, or have branches, outside of London and collections are shared across the UK through loans of objects and touring exhibitions. For example, the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, British Library and Tate each have extensive national loans and touring programmes.

Tourism: Durham

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the Government provides to public bodies to promote and develop tourism to the Durham Heritage coast.

John Glen: It is not possible to ascertain the precise figure of funding given to the Durham Heritage coast. Government’s funding for tourism, through VisitBritain and VisitEngland, is not allocated by area but instead focuses on promoting the country as a whole and thematically. Durham Heritage coast has recently benefited from projects funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. My colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government also provide support and funding to coastal areas through the Coastal Communities Fund, much of which has a tourism focus.

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with representatives of the relevant EU funding bodies on applications for EU funding by UK creative organisations for multi-annual projects running until 2020.

Matt Hancock: Ministers regularly meet representatives of EU funding bodies for a wide range of discussions.

Broadcasting Programmes

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with industry representatives on the effect of the UK exiting the EU on cross-border co-production agreements.

Matt Hancock: The Secretary of State meets regularly with industry on a range of issues in relation to the UK leaving the European Union (EU). The European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production is a Council of Europe (CoE) convention and is not part of EU law and will therefore not be be affected by the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Museums and Galleries: Collections

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the UK exiting the customs union on the procedures for transporting cultural objects between museums across international borders.

John Glen: The borrowing and lending of objects with European partners and touring of exhibitions and performances is an important part of a thriving arts and cultural sector. We are working with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Border Force, and organisations in the arts and museums sectors who regularly transport cultural objects to understand the current operating environment and what systems may need to be maintained or introduced. We want to have a new customs arrangement that continues to ensure cross-border movements are as smooth and frictionless as possible.

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether an assessment has been made of the merits of continuing to pay into and receive funding from Creative Europe after the UK has left the EU.

Matt Hancock: Leaving the EU means we can take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. We are discussing closely with stakeholders all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest.

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Creative Europe in facilitating international professional networks for the creative industries over the last five years.

Matt Hancock: As with all EU funds, we are carefully considering the impact and effectiveness of the investments made through Creative Europe. International cooperation is integral to maintaining our world class creative industries sector, and we will ensure that they are able to continue to cooperate with international partners after we exit the EU.

Arts: EU Grants and Loans

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to collect data on the (a) amount and (b) proportion of the UK's allocation of the European Structural Investment Fund that have benefited the arts and culture sector.

Matt Hancock: Leaving the EU means we can take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. We are consulting closely with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest.

Youth Social Action Review

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 8 March 2017 to Question 66308, what progress her Department has made on the Youth Full-Time Social Action review.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether it is planned that the Youth Full-Time Social Action review will publish its findings and recommendations by October 2017.

Tracey Crouch: My predecessor as Minister for Civil Society appointed Steve Holliday as the Chair of the independent review of full-time social action by young people on 13 March 2017. Progress with the review was delayed for six weeks due to Purdah, and we will agree a revised process and timetable with the Chair in the coming weeks. We anticipate that the review will be completed by December 2017.

Channel Four Television: Location

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has for the relocation of Channel 4 outside London.

Matt Hancock: The government wants Channel 4 to do more to drive economic growth outside London, stimulate regional creative industries, and better serve regional audiences. That means relocating out of London, and we want to work with Channel 4 to do that.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 7 March 2017 to Question 65680 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: procurement, how much of the procurement spending in each of those years related to the services of management consultants.

Matt Hancock: As per my answer to the question 65680, the consultancy spend is also set out in the annual report.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 2 March 2017 to Question 64995, on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: procurement, what estimate she has made of the total budget for managing procurement in each year since 2010.

Matt Hancock: This information is not held centrally, and to obtain it would incur a disproportionate cost.

Internet: Harassment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the Home Office on proposals for a ministerial seminar on hate on the internet.

Matt Hancock: Department of Culture, Media and Sport officials alongside officials from the Home Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice and criminal justice agencies are currently discussing the content and form of the Ministerial seminar.

Public Telephones

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of universal service obligation to provide a reasonable number of working telephone boxes where they are most needed; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock: When a Universal Service Provider (USP) of public call boxes in the street - BT or, in the Kingston upon Hull area, KCom - wishes to remove one, the provider must inform the appropriate local authority, which then must consult with local people. The factors that weigh with local authorities in these cases commonly include: the call box's possible use in emergency situations; the quality of mobile signals in the area; and if people living nearby might not have access to mobile telephones, for whatever reason. Since it is better for such matters to be considered locally on a case-by-case basis, the Secretary of State has made no overall assessment of the role of public telephones in the situations referred to.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) universal credit were processed within five days during the most recent 12 months for which data is available.

Damian Hinds: The information requested is shown in the table below:  Claims Cleared in 5 working daysJobseekers Allowance351,081Employment & Support Allowance385,934 This information is not collected in relation to Universal Credit. The assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit is fundamentally different to the legacy benefits it is replacing. The first payment is made 5 weeks after the initial application (6 weeks if waiting days are served). This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month assessment period in which to gather information about a claimant’s earnings.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the differential effect of the non-consensual sex exemption on women and men.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the effect on the number of terminations in families which already have at least two children of the introduction of Support for a child conceived without your consent.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of pregnancies that will occur as a result of rape in families that already have at least two children in the next 12 months.

Damian Hinds: The Government assessed the equality and human rights impacts of this policy fully, throughout policy development and in preparation for its implementation, thus meeting its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, and ensuring compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998. Ministers have also taken account of that duty during the formulation of the exceptions to the policy. Consequently, it is the Government’s position that this policy is compliant with its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. We have not estimated the number of pregnancies that will occur in the next 12 months as a result of non consensual sex. Information about terminations is not available. We recognise that this is a difficult and sensitive issue. We believe that this strikes the right balance between ensuring mothers get the support they need in a not overly intrusive manner whilst at the same time providing the right assurance to Government that the additional support is going to those for whom it is intended.

Poverty

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 15 of the report, UK Poverty: Causes and Solutions, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on 6 September 2016, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the recommendation to extend the measurement of poverty indicators to working-age adults without children, and to pensioners.

Caroline Dinenage: Estimates of the number and proportion of working-age adults without children and pensioners in relative and absolute low income in the UK are published in the National Statistics Households Below Average Income series. In 2015/16 on a Before Housing Cost basis (BHC) 14% of working-age adults without children in the UK were in relative low income, and 12% in absolute low income. In 2015/16 on a After Housing Cost basis (AHC) the proportion of pensioners in relative low income was 16%, with 14% in absolute low income. In 2015/16, 8% of UK pensioners aged 65 and over were estimated to be in material deprivation. We will continue to publish data on low income through the annual Households Below Average Income statistics.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare: Court Orders

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to improve the enforcement of court orders made in animal cruelty cases.

George Eustice: Disqualification orders, prohibiting an offender convicted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 from keeping an animal, or having any influence over the way an animal is kept, can be made by a Magistrates’ Court. The police are looking at ways to improve the way such disqualification orders are recorded on the Police National Computer. Anyone who has concerns or evidence that someone may be in breach of a disqualification order should report the matter to the police in the first instance.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to increase the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences to five years.

George Eustice: The Sentencing Council recently updated its guidelines for magistrates to ensure that the most serious cases of animal cruelty receive longer sentences of up to the maximum of 6 months’ imprisonment. The government continues to keep maximum penalties under review.

Food: Charitable Donations

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that more surplus food is redistributed by retailers to charities supporting those experiencing hunger and food poverty.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is working with food businesses through a voluntary approach to reduce food waste, including through redistribution when surplus food cannot be avoided. Business signatories to the Courtauld 2025 Commitment are aiming to double the amount of food surplus they send for redistribution between 2015 and 2020. We do not have plans to legislate.

Agriculture: Trade Unions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the National and Ulster Farmers Unions and other key stakeholders are involved in discussions on negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

George Eustice: Defra is working closely with the devolved administrations and stakeholders as we develop our approach to leaving the EU. I spoke at the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association Dinner on 18th October 2016 with a range of organisations in attendance, and met the Association again on 21st March 2017. The Secretary of State intends to visit Northern Ireland and meet stakeholders including the Ulster Farmers’ Unions in short order.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to ensure that subsidy payments to farmers are maintained after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: We will provide stability to farmers as we leave the EU and we will continue to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of the parliament.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure agricultural subsidies for farmers and landowners are used to enhance access to places the public can walk in.

George Eustice: We will listen to the views of everyone who has an interest in the future of the farming industry as we prepare new approaches to supporting food production and stewardship of the countryside.

Water: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents of water pollution through the excess use of fertilisers were recorded in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: There were 530 confirmed water pollution incidents due to slurry or fertiliser recorded as originating from land or fields in the 10 year period from 2007 to date in England . YearSlurry or Fertiliser Incidents Category 1—3 200748200856200939201030201115201260201366201462201556201675201723Total530 The Environment Agency is working to reduce the number of agricultural pollution incidents by giving advice and guidance and by working with other regulators, trade associations and farmers representatives to raise awareness of pollution risk and promote best practice.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers in England and Wales have received their full 2016 CAP Pillar 1 payments; and how many such farmers are yet to receive their full balance.

George Eustice: Under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in England, 85,197 eligible farmers (99.2% of the total), as of 28 June 2017, have been issued a 2016 BPS claim payment. In addition to the claims which the Rural Payments Agency cannot pay due to legal reasons, such as probate, there are 243 BPS 2016 claims still to complete processing. The Rural Payments Agency continues to deal with any queries on BPS 2016 claims raised by farmers. Pillar 1 payments in Wales are devolved to the Welsh Government.

Water: Pollution

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of reported pollution incidents of watercourses were officially investigated in each year for which data is available.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: This is a devolved matter. For information on Wales the Honourable Member should contact Natural Resource Wales. In the last 10 years the following number of water pollution incidents have been investigated by the Environment Agency in England: YearNumber of Category 1 & 2 Serious water pollution incidentsNumber of Category 3 Minor water pollution incidentsTotal number of incidents Category 1-3 causing water pollution2007444783882822008378739277702009430785582852010336824785832011360814485042012293797282652013376810984852014361691372742015326603763632016314610064142017 (to date)10029623062Total37187756981287 These incidents, totalling 81,287 were all investigated and categorised as Category 1 Major, Category 2 Significant and Category 3 Minor impact. Out of the confirmed water pollutions 3,718 were Category 1 and 2 serious incidents - the Environment Agency investigated all of these reports and attended on average 92%. There were also 77,569 minor incidents - the Environment Agency investigated all of these reports and has attended on average 49%. The Environment Agency investigates all reports of pollution incidents and make risk based decisions on the potential impact which determines site attendance.

Hunting Act 2004

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to strengthen penalties for those in breach of the Hunting Act 2004.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Under the Hunting Act 2004, an individual can receive an unlimited fine if found guilty of illegal hunting. Sentencing and the level of fine imposed if a person is found guilty is a matter for the courts. The Government has no plans to strengthen these penalties.

Waste Disposal: Worksop

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has held discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Secretary on the potential risk and costs of a fire at the abandoned waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost of clearing waste from the waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop (a) including and (b) not including landfill tax forgone.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for how many days the waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop, has had no site management.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the environmental and health risks posed by the abandoned waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The site at Sandy lane was abandoned in October 2016 and from this point onwards there has been no site management. There have however been regular Police and Fire service patrols and the site is monitored using CCTV. The Environment Agency is working with Local Resilience Forum members, including Bassetlaw District Council, the Nottinghamshire Fire Service, Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England, to manage the risks at the site and is acting to clear the waste that also poses a risk to human health. There are three main waste streams which have been left at the site: mixed non-hazardous combustible waste in and around the transfer building; mixed construction and demolition (C&D) non-combustible waste outside and the bags of polyurethane foam, mostly deposited in the centre of the site. The table below outlines the estimated costs associated with each waste stream. The cost of this clearance, excluding landfill tax have not been included as the landfill tax is not waived, which has been previously communicated by HMT to the HM for Bassetlaw. WasteEstimated quantity (tonnes)1Estimated Costs in £k (including Landfill Tax)Mixed C&D non-combustible20,0003,000Non-Hazardous combustible2,500375Polyurethane foam10020 1The tonnages have been estimated by officers’ observations on site. A more accurate assessment of the volumes of waste present at the site would cost around £5K. The main environmental and health risk from the site is from the polyurethane foam left on site. The Environment Agency, county and district councils have set funds aside and are making plans to remove this foam as soon as possible.  The Environment Agency has also been working in close partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, Notts Fire & Rescue Service, Police, the County Council and Public Health England, to create a tactical plan which will be implemented in the event of a fire. The Notts Fire & Rescue Service will shortly be entering the site and will attempt to move wastes around the site to allow for fire breaks and better access. The other environmental risks are in relation to the degradation of the waste. The Environment Agency, Fire and Rescue Service and Bassetlaw DC do have powers to intervene in exceptional circumstances where there is a serious risk to the environment and health. The Environment Agency is continuing its investigation into the former operators of the site. There is close contact about the site at official level across Government agencies. The Secretary of State has not discussed the site with Cabinet colleagues since his appointment on 11 June.

Bees: Conservation

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures he is taking to ensure chemicals used in agriculture are not detrimental to the bee population.

George Eustice: All pesticides are subject to a stringent authorisation process before they can be placed on the market and used. At the centre of this process is an assessment by the Health and Safety Executive of scientific information on the risks that can arise from the use of these products. If the risks to people or to the environment are unacceptable, the pesticide is not authorised. Possible risks to bees are considered in this process. Conditions are placed on the use of authorised pesticides to ensure the protection of people and the environment. These conditions may include maximum dose rates or restrictions on timing and place of application. Farmers and growers are required by law to take all reasonable precautions when using pesticides and to confine applications to the target area.

Microplastics

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he plans to introduce legislation banning the use of plastic microbeads in products for use in the home.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We ran a consultation between 20 December 2016 and 28 February 2017 on our intention to ban microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. We will publish the Government’s response to the consultation shortly. Additionally, the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI) has assured us that no microbeads are used in UK-produced household and industrial cleaning products.

Ivory: Sales

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will he take to prevent the sale of ivory.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In the UK there are strong rules in place controlling the sale of ivory, backed up by robust enforcement from Border Force and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. Our measures already go further than the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and EU law; for example, the UK CITES Management Authority’s policy is not to issue certificates for the sale of raw African elephant ivory of any age. Any further action will be announced in the normal way.

Department for Communities and Local Government

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that privately-owned tall buildings used for residential purposes are checked for fire safety.

Mr Marcus Jones: It is for private sector landlords, who are responsible for the safety of their buildings, to take action to assure tenants of the safety of the building. The testing process which is being undertaken for local authorities and housing associations is open to any other residential landlords free of charge. Local authorities will ensure that landlords are aware of this offer and the Government has also alerted owners, landlords and managers of private sector residential blocks in England through their representative bodies.

Temporary Accommodation: Emergencies

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to require local councils to rehouse social tenants displaced due to disaster within their local area.

Alok Sharma: There are already safeguards in place to protect social tenants who lose their homes in a disaster. We would expect local authorities or housing associations to take steps to rehouse any existing social tenants whose existing home is destroyed or made uninhabitable in a fire or other disaster.

Change of Use

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will review the rules governing permitted development for change of use from commercial and industrial to residential; and what estimate he has made of changes in use by borough in each year from 2010 to 2015.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 28 June 2017



We continue to keep permitted development rights, and the contribution they make to national housing delivery, under review.The Department publishes data on permitted development rights[1] and the number of homes delivered under the rights for each local authority[2]. Separate data is also published on planning decisions for the change of use by local authority area.[3] [1] Table PDR 1: District planning authorities - applications for prior approvals for permitted developments, by local planning authority https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics[2] Table 123 Housing Supply; net additional dwellings, component flows of, by local authority district, England: 2012-13 to 2015-16 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing[3] Table 124A District planning authorities- planning decisions by development type and local planning authority (yearly) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics

Hedges and Ditches: Mediation

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will introduce legislative proposals to abolish or reduce the fees local authorities charge to mediate high-hedge disputes under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 and the High Hedges Regulations 2005.

Mr Marcus Jones: Local authorities have discretion over whether to set fees for dealing with high hedges complaints and to set their level. Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, the high hedges legislation, enables local authorities in England to charge fees for intervening in unresolved neighbour disputes about tall evergreen hedges. Decisions on setting such fees are a matter for each local authority and has been since the legislation was implemented.

Social Rented Housing: Fire Prevention

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his Department's policy that all social housing is fitted with one hour fire doors.

Alok Sharma: The Building Regulations and the supporting guidance already make it a requirement to have appropriate fire doors in new buildings that have shared access and corridors.Housing providers, including social housing providers, are expected to carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment for the common parts of their buildings and put in place the measures identified in those risk assessments, which could include provision in relation to fire doors. Further detail on what is required is set out in the guidance – www.local.gov.uk/fire-safety-purpose-built-flats.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the investigations into councils' residential tower blocks will assess the (a) flammability and poisonous elements contained in wall insulation and furniture, (b) operability of fire alarms and (c) whether central stairwells in towers are protected from fire and smoke.

Alok Sharma: The tests currently being carried out are focussed on the combustibility of material in cladding made from Aluminium Composite Material. Where those materials have failed that test, housing providers have had instructions to review all fire safety arrangements in the relevant property, and to check insulation and other materials in the wall construction.

Change of Use

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will review the suitability of commercial to residential conversions through permitted development.

Mr Marcus Jones: We continue to keep permitted development rights, and the contribution they make to national housing delivery, under review.

Department for International Development

Syria: Overseas Aid

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that food and medical supplies are reaching internally displaced persons in Syria; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK has supported the UN and international NGOs since the start of the conflict to deliver food, medical and other supplies to those in need, including internally displaced people. The UK has provided 19.7 million food rations, 6.7 million health consultations, and over 2 million vaccines to people in need across Syria. The UK continues to use its position in the UN Security Council and the International Syria Support Group to press the Assad regime and its backers to allow aid to reach those who need it, while maintaining the pressure for a political settlement to bring the suffering of the Syrian people to an end.

Syria: Humanitarian aid

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian needs of the refugees in the Berm no-man's land between Syria and Jordan; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: A comprehensive needs assessment has not been conducted at the Berm recently as security constraints have restricted access. However, our partners tell us that current priorities are to improve security and access to food and medical care. We welcome the progress made to enable the UN to restart deliveries of essential supplies. However, we remain concerned by delays to recent aid distributions and the low number of attendees at the UN health clinic.We will not be making a further statement at this time.

Iraq: Health Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department is doing to ensure the provision of medication and healthcare to people affected by ISIS in Iraq.

Alistair Burt: The UK is at the forefront of efforts to support the Government of Iraq to meet the needs of those affected by the conflict with Daesh in Iraq. For example DFID funds the International Organisation for Migration to support emergency healthcare interventions, a field hospital outside Mosul, ambulance transportation, and Mobile Medical Teams to deliver lifesaving health services. As the largest contributor to the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, the UK supports several projects to meet the most urgent needs of displaced Iraqis including the provision of healthcare and medication.

Iraq: Development Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has received from the Government of Iraq on development aid for Iraq after the liberation of Mosul.

Alistair Burt: DFID has regular discussions and meetings with officials from the Government of Iraq about future development plans for Iraq after the liberation of Mosul and how the international community can support Iraq in the longer term. In addition to the UK’s ongoing humanitarian and stabilisation assistance funding, DFID is providing a £300 million loan guarantee to support the World Bank’s programme in Iraq that is helping the Government of Iraq cope with the impact of low oil prices and the long term consequences of the conflict with Daesh.

HM Treasury

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Ronnie Cowan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress the Government has made on allocating the Equitable Life Payment Scheme funds to policyholders.

Stephen Barclay: The Equitable Life Payment Scheme is closed to new claims and the government issued the final progress report in November 2016. This report sets out the details regarding the volume and value of payments made, and a copy can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report.

Money Laundering: Regulation

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of having 27 separate supervisory bodies responsible for guarding against money laundering.

Stephen Barclay: The 2015 National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing found that the effectiveness of the supervisory regime in the UK is inconsistent and, whilst some supervisors are highly effective in some areas, there is room for improvement across the board. The National Risk Assessment is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-risk-assessment-of-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing The government committed to review the regime and, in March, announced reforms to address the issues identified in the National Risk Assessment. More information on these reforms is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/anti-money-laundering-supervisory-regime-response-and-call-for-further-information

Tax Avoidance

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he had made of the effect of the growth of umbrella companies on tax revenues.

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are registered to work through umbrella companies.

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to review the use of umbrella companies by employers and employment agencies.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) checks that employers and employees are tax compliant by undertaking targeted compliance activity. In the temporary labour market, it has challenged non-compliant businesses with the effect that those businesses have changed their business model. HMRC continues to challenge umbrella companies who do not comply with their obligations.There has been no recent assessment made on the effect of the growth of umbrella companies on tax revenues. The government does not have a record of the number of people registered to work specifically through umbrella companies.

Public Sector: Pay

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will lift the one per cent pay cap.

Elizabeth Truss: I refer the honourable member to the comments made by the Chancellor regarding the public sector pay cap during the debate on the Queen’s speech on 29 June. Link to those exchanges is available at http://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2017-06-29/debates/D199DEF4-2B92-4D43-BF7D-01F7D98591A3/EconomyAndJobs

Child Tax Credit

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will carry out an equality impact assessment in relation to the restriction of child tax credits to the first two children in a family.

Elizabeth Truss: The UK Government assessed the impact on equality of the policies introduced in the Summer Budget 2015 and the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 when the Bill was introduced to Parliament in July 2015, thus meeting its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. A copy of the impact assessment is available on the UK Parliament website at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/welfarereformandwork/documents.html

Child Tax Credit: Northern Ireland

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the non-consensual sex exemption in relation to child tax credits on the safety of women and children in Northern Ireland.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government does not consider that this exception will impact on the safety of women and children in Northern Ireland.

Child Tax Credit: Data Protection

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is on the disposal of data relating to Support for a child conceived without your consent when the claimant is no longer in receipt of child tax credits.

Elizabeth Truss: In line with their Standard Document Retention Policy, information will be held by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for up to 7 years after a claim is closed, after which it will be destroyed securely.

Child Tax Credit

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how child tax credits awarded under the non-consensual conception exemption will be (a) classified and (b) coded in official documents.

Elizabeth Truss: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) fully appreciates the sensitivities in this area and has been thorough in taking data protection issues into account. HMRC is satisfied that its process does not breach the Data Protection Act in any way.The award notice and other written products sent to tax credits claimants simply show the children on the claim and the number of children for whom Child Tax Credit is being paid.For example, in an award where the individual element of the Child Tax Credit is being paid for three children (where one child was born on or after 6 April 2017 and qualifies for an exception) the award notice will show all three children on the claim, and that HMRC is paying for all three children. The award notice will not state the reason for the exception.

Cooperatives and Social Enterprises

Luke Pollard: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to support the growth of the co-operative and social enterprise sector.

Luke Pollard: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on measures aimed at supporting the growth of the co-operative sector.

Martyn Day: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support the growth of social enterprises and cooperatives.

Stephen Barclay: The Government is strongly supportive of both the co-operative and social enterprise sectors. The Government supports social enterprises in various ways, including championing procurement for social value. At Spring Budget 2017, the Government also announced that the thresholds at which co-operatives will have to conduct a full audit will increase in line with those for companies. This will allow co-operatives to use more of their resources to benefit their members. The Government will continue to explore further ways to support the sector. Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel.

Self-employed: Cooperatives

Rachel Reeves: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to facilitate and encourage self-organisation and cooperatives for self-employed people.

Stephen Barclay: The Government is supportive of the co-operatives sector, including where this model can benefit the self-employed and help their businesses to grow. To help self-employed people, the British Business Bank facilitates the provision of finance at all stages of a business’ development. In addition, the Industrial Strategy announced the launch of the Entrepreneurship Review and the Scale-Up Taskforce to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business. In addition, the Government continues to explore further ways to support the co-operatives sector. For example, at Spring Budget 2017, the Government announced that thresholds at which co-operatives will have to conduct a full audit will increase in line with those for companies. This will place co-operative and community benefit societies on a level playing field with companies of the same size.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Rachel Reeves: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will provide funding to local authorities for the installation of sprinklers and other fire safety measures in high-rise flats.

Elizabeth Truss: All social landlords have been instructed to carry out fire safety checks on tower blocks and ensure the appropriate safety and response measures are in place. This is being done in co-operation with local fire and rescue services. We are testing cladding in all relevant tower blocks. It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that people are safe through funding fire safety improvements. Where works are necessary to ensure the fire safety of a building, we will ensure that lack of financial resources will not prevent them going ahead.

Banks: Pay

Gareth Thomas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to provide guidance on limiting the number of UK registered bankers earning over one million euros; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has no plans to issue guidance on limiting the number of UK registered bankers earning over one million euros. The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle unacceptable pay practices in the banking sector and has the toughest regime on pay of any major financial centre.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Borders: Northern Ireland

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Democratic Unionist Party leader, Arlene Foster, on the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: The Secretary of State has had a number of discussions on EU exit with Arlene Foster and other Northern Ireland Ministers under the previous Northern Ireland Executive, including through the Joint Ministerial Committee. There is a very strong commitment from the UK Government, Irish Government and Northern Ireland parties to find a practical solution that recognises the unique circumstances of the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. We welcome the clear commitment from the European Council and European Commission to work on flexible and imaginative solutions to aim to avoid a return to a hard border.

Economic Situation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department is having with HM Treasury on monitoring the effect on the economy of triggering Article 50 and the process of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union is undertaking a wide range of analysis of the effect on the economy, in partnership with HM Treasury and other government departments and has been engaging closely with stakeholders. The UK’s decision to leave the EU means there will be a period of adjustment, but the UK economy is resilient. The unemployment rate is at its lowest level in four decades and the employment rate has never been higher. Businesses have continued to show their confidence in the UK, with major investments announced by GlaxoSmithKline, Google and Apple, among others. During our negotiations with the EU we are determined to get the very best deal for households and businesses and will continue to work closely with other government departments and HM Treasury to achieve this.

Department of Health

Autism

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people who have a diagnosis of autism have been in hospital for more than two years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is in the attached table.  



PQ124 attached table
(Word Document, 14.72 KB)

Care Homes: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered care homes in Bassetlaw constituency do not have a fire sprinkler system.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Local Fire Authorities have the statutory duty to enforce fire safety legislation in the United Kingdom. However, the Care Quality Commission wrote out to the social care sector this week to remind them of their responsibilities relating to fire safety.

Medicine: Education

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will restore the bursary for nursing and health care students.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government has set out its intention for these changes to be implemented in August 2017. There are no plans to re-instate bursaries for Nursing, Midwives and Allied Health Professions. The reforms mean we can move away from centrally imposed number controls and financial limitations. As a result, we expect this to enable up to 10,000 additional nursing and other health professional training places over this parliament. Entry to nursing, midwifery and allied health profession remains extremely competitive with a ratio from applications this January of nearly two applicants per nurse training place; this shows that there remains strong demand from students who want to study for a high-quality nursing degree.

NHS: Private Finance Initiative

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to centralise the PFI debt burden, removing it from individual NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts.

Mr Philip Dunne: It is of upmost importance that the public sector as a whole gets value for money out of all of its contracts and private finance initiative (PFI) contracts are no different. The Department has for some time, helped and advised local trust contract managers where requested in relation to PFI issues, and also supports trusts in making operational savings in the services provided as part of their PFI schemes. The decisions about these services are however best made at a local level where they interact with local healthcare delivery activities, and it is for this reason that the Department’s view is that there would be no real benefit in, for example, the Department assuming the obligations within a PFI contract.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Finance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many clinical commissioning groups are subject to the capped expenditure process.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with health professionals on the capped expenditure process.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which criteria determine whether health economies are subject to capped expenditure processes.

Mr Philip Dunne: This Government has committed to increase National Health Service spending by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms over the next five years, and for the first time to deliver an increase in real funding per head of the population for every year of the Parliament. As with all public services, local NHS areas need to live within the budget agreed – otherwise they effectively take up resources that could be spent on general practitioners, mental health care, and cancer treatment. As part of their financial planning, NHS England and NHS Improvement have been running a process to look at how a small number of areas could do more to balance their financial plans, as many already have. It is important that these plans are consistent with constitutional standards on waiting times and patient choice. But it is right that the NHS should consider efficiency savings such as reducing delayed transfers of care, or reducing running costs – because this improves patient care overall.

Department of Health: Departmental Responsibilities

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the full list of ministerial responsibilities for his Department.

Mr Philip Dunne: The list of ministerial responsibilities is available on GOV.uk.

Palliative Care

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to improve end of life care for (a) adults and (b) children; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: On 5 July 2016 we published Our Commitment to you for end of life care, which set out what everyone should expect from their care at the end of life and the actions we are taking to make high quality and personalisation in care a reality for everyone, both adults and children. This Commitment includes measures to enable personalisation, measures to improve care quality and education and training in end of life care and measures to encourage the spread of innovative models of care. This includes enabling greater use of advance care planning and electronic care records to record people’s choices and preferences, and building services around people’s needs and preferences. Our Commitment to you for end of life care is available at the following link:www.gov.uk/government/publications/choice-in-end-of-life-care-government-responseOver the last 12 months the National End of Life Care Programme Board has been taking forward implementation. All relevant arm’s-length bodies and key charitable partners are represented on the Board to ensure system wide action and accountability. We are aiming to publish a progress report on the delivery of the Commitment this summer.

Mental Health: Children and Young People

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government plans to introduce the green paper on children and young people's mental health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Green Paper on children and young people’s mental health, which is being jointly developed by the Department of Health and the Department for Education, is due for publication by the end of this year.

Women and Equalities

Equal Pay

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the gender pay gap in (a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each year since 2010.

Anne Milton: The Office of National Statistics publishes the median hourly pay figures set out below, based on place of residence, annually. To accelerate the rate at which the UK gap is closing the Government has introduced mandatory gender pay gap reporting for large employers and is helping business to understand and address their gaps. a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency YearGender pay gap (%)201028.8201125.5201227.3201322.3201422.7201521.1201625.0   b) ScotlandYearGender pay gap (%)201017.3201117.2201217.7201318.0201417.6201517.6201615.8 c) United KingdomYearGender pay gap (%)201019.8201120.2201219.6201319.8201419.2201519.3201618.1